I'm not your brother.

Nate was used to it. Should be used to it. Would be better, if he was used to it.

The smile flickered, just a little, and he lifted his head right back. His tail remained level with his spine — an unconscious gesture, the work of wild blood in him making sentiment known. Not hostile. But hardly cowed, either.

Circling above them, Ko-Ga called. Revival had made something more ornery out of him, braver maybe, and Nate hoped the bird wouldn't do something stupid. Especially when Mister Big Bad Wolf went in for a sniff.

Aivar. Nate nodded, taking a step to the side when he felt the stranger had gotten a little too close for comfort. Noses were fine; it was the teeth he worried about. And a name was better than nothing, but given what came before it, he decided it was better to expect no welcome, here.

Well, yeah, actually — I do. The raven's all I'm here for. Not coming for your deer or dens or... women, or anything. Did wolves fight over women? Probably.

I'll be on my way straight after, so don't worry.